Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed – exclusively excessive
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Behold the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed. This symbol of excess recently debuted at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where else?
Apparently this is the uncompromising realisation of a fully open two-seater performance car with no roof or windscreen. It is a tribute to racing, offering an unforgettable driving experience.
Only a select few will experience this unforgettable experience with just 250 being made. And more than likely all of those will be sold somewhere in the Middle East.
Styled for speed
The front resembles the Mercedes AMG One, it has an aerodynamically optimised bonnet while there are deflectors on the front and side to keep turbulence from entering the cabin.
You don’t want your hairstyle ruffled en route to the club. That said, the PureSpeed comes with two aerodynamically optimised helmets. These feature an intercom system allowing passenger and driver to talk with one another and these can be paired with your phone.
The rear diffuser and bootlid spoiler are optimised for the PureSpeed’s lack of roof. There’s an extendable rear spoiler which changes position depending on speed with five different angles of attack. There is also an active splitter at the front which lowers above 80km/h, AMG says it helps create a Venturi effect to reduce front axle lift.
No roof
The most notable feature is the HALO like roll bar, reminiscent of an F1 car, sort of. There’s no roof, but the car comes with a weather cover which stretches over the cabin and fastens to the wheel arches, which AMG says is the traditional way to do it.
The car itself is a development of the AMG GT with an aluminium chassis. The body is a mix of aluminium, magnesium, fibre-composites and steel. There are carbon fibre aero elements too.
PureSpeed with V8 power
It’s powered by the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo with 430kW and 800Nm. This allows for a claimed 0 to 100 time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h. The PureSpeed uses the usual nine-speed AMG Speedshift box with its wet start off clutch. It channels power to each corner via the fully variable all-wheel drive system.
Semi-active hydraulic roll stabilisation ensures ‘optimum road contact’ and there are ceramic composite rotors with six piston calipers up front. Rounding out the dynamic package is active rear axle steering.
